Photo of Jeff Rosenstock by Matt Price
w/ Sidney Gish and Gladie | 8:00pm | 6133 Delmar Blvd. | All ages | $22 adv, $25 day of show
Jeff Rosenstock, patron saint of bands that played Warped Tour before 1pm, has a new album out called HELLMODE, which was just released August 31st (a surprise stealth release ahead of its announced street date) on Polyvinyl Records. Recorded at the historic EastWest Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Emmy-nominated producer Jack Shirley, it is perhaps Rosenstock’s most powerful album of his storied, decades-long career as one of America’s most prominent DIY musicians. HELLMODE is a deep and reflective record, showcasing a well-honed sense of perception and maturity while retaining the punk rock edge Rosenstock has been known for. As HELLMODE racked up rave reviews, Rosenstock took to social media to call out the bullshit practice of merch cuts that many venues now take from touring bands. On his birthday, no less. Bomb the music industry, indeed.
On HELLMODE, Rosenstock reflects on the spoils his music, as a solo artist and as the composer on the cartoon Craig of the Creek, has brought into his life and his conflicts with this elevation. While Jeff and his wife aren’t living it up in the Hollywood Hills, they aren’t exactly eating rice and beans for every meal, either. There’s no whining about not having enough money or respect, or humblebragging about what cool shit he has going on. Instead, we are presented with graceful and vulnerable ruminations about how money can fix material issues and make life a little easier, but often does not fix complicated existential issues like you may hope. One’s life may finally have some more comforts and security but that doesn’t fix climate change, the ongoing pandemic, or the fact that Henry Kissinger is apparently never going to fucking die. Many musicians have tried to tackle these ideas and many stumble hard but here it is expressed in relatable, anthemic song. Rosenstock alludes to the systems that hold us down in a non-academic fashion that is accessible and full of humanity. As it gets harder and harder for musicians or basically anyone to make a decent living these days, HELLMODE definitely resonates. Here, raging against our neoliberal hellscape can be both cathartic and uplifting.
Jeff Rosenstock and his band Death Rosenstock will be performing at Delmar Hall in St. Louis September 17th with Sidney Gish and Gladie. There’s no word if they’ll be spray painting shirts behind the venue after the show. | Bryan J. Sutter
2023 tour dates for Jeff Rosenstock:
09.15.23 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade – Heaven #
09.16.23 Madison, TN – Eastside Bowl #
09.17.23 St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall #
09.19.23 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed #
09.20.23 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre #
09.22.23 Toronto, Ontario – The Danforth Music Hall #
09.24.23 Montreal, Quebec – Corona Theatre #
11.25.23 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren $
11.27.23 Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf $
11.28.23 El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace $
11.30.23 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger $
12.01.23 Austin, TX – Empire Garage $
12.02.23 Dallas, TX – Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ $
12.03.23 Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard $
12.05.23 Denver, CO – Summit $
12.07.23 Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell $
12.08.23 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall $
12.10.23 Portland, OR – Revolution Hall $
12.11.23 Seattle, WA – The Showbox $
12.14.23 Reno, NV – The Holland Project $
12.15.23 San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom $
12.16.23 Los Angeles, CA – The Novo $
12.17.23 San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park $
# with Sidney Gish and Gladie
$ with Small Crush
